Air conditioning apparatus



' e sheets-sheet 1 .IIa/@mt D. E. PERHAM AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed oct. l1. 193s Dec; 16, 1941.

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AIR' CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .,i-g @4Z l .216 Il 210 ZIZ Izadezaiz Eferm.

Dec- 16 1941. D. E. PERHAM 2,266,259 A AIR GONDZVTIONING APPARATUS Filed Oct. l, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 1, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 .c M a 6 6 I 2 16, 1941- D. E. PERI-IAM AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Ys sheets-smet 5 Filed Oct. 1, 1938 MODULATOK FAN POWER cool.4

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CLOSED Dec. 1s, 1941. E, PERHAM 2,266,259

A IR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 HEATl 2 2 m@ I 3 d. cv 6 7 a0 /Mlm Z 8. 4 n 6 m f Nwe /7 E. 6 5 .n 2m a m 0% w .2 w. JM 2T .I l 5 5 f w I 2 L. /I m m E. Z mw 7 v W 2 -//L/ Z 7. s 5. 0 w fr@ j Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Deane E. Perh'am, Chicago, Ill. v Application October 1, 1938, No. 232,825 s claims. (c1. la-44) My invention pertains to air conditioning apparatus and is particularly concerned with the provision of a unit adapted to be placed in the room of Va dwelling or omce building to heat, cool, humidify, dehumidify, circulate, cleanse, and/or replace the air therein. i

An object of my invention is to provide a unit which is more compact and eicient than those now in use.

Another object is to provide an air conditioning unit which is simple and economical to make and which will give long trouble-free service.

Another object is to provide an air conditioningunit having a more eilicient heating means Vthan any heretofore used.

Another object is to provide anrair conditioning unit which may have means for the direct radiation of heat into the room.

Another object is to provide improved means for directing the air against the heating and cooling elements for the purpose of promoting more adaptable for different sizes of rooms than4 any heretofore known.

Another object is to provide improved and more eiiicient means for moistening the air passing through the unit.

Another object is to provide improved control means whereby the unit may be more 1readily adapted to produce any desired atmosphericcondition in the room in which it is located.

Another object is to provide an improved grouping of the controls for regulating the unit.

Another object is to provide a unit wherein all parts are readily accessible for adjustment or inspection.

Another object is to provide an improved unit which may be partially recessed in the wall of the` room in which it is located. e

Another object is to provide a, unit having an improved frame construction. c Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

applications, Serial No. 723,697 filed May 3, 1934,

and Serial No. 89,148 iiled July 6, 1936, now Patent N0. 2,186,145, issued Jan. 9, 1940.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken on the irregular line l-l of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line [-4 of Figurel;

Figure 5 is a partial transverse section showing the control mechanism and is taken on the line 5 5 Aof Figure l;

Figure 6 is a partial section showing the fresh air damper controlmechanism and is taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a further sectional view showing the fresh air damper control mechanism and is taken on the line 1-1 of Figure l;

Figures 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views showing the electrical connections and automaticcontrols; and

Figure 10 is a horizontal section through a wall of a room'illustrating the way in which my air conditioning unit may be recessed therein.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated therein a preferred embodiment of my invention wherein the operative parts-of the apparatus are supported on a frame A`comprising a boxlike structure formed of sheet metal plates welded or otherwise suitably secured to each other. As shown most clearly in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

this frame A comprises a front sheet 20 welded or otherwise suitably secured at its upper edge to the up-turned flange 22 of a top sheet 24 and welded at its lower edge to the up-turned ange 26 of a metal sheet 28 which forms the Vbottom of the frame proper and which is also bent upwardly to form the back of theframe. 'Ihe upper edge 30 of this combined bottom and' back sheet Il is welded to the upstanding flange 32 of the top sheet 24.

The ends of the box-like frame A are formed by end sheets 34 and 36 which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to flanges formed by`overturning the end edges of the metal sheets 20, 24 and'28 heretofore referred to. "The end sheet 34 has welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto, a pair of U-shaped supporting brackets 38 which are mounted on legs 40, the upper ends of the legs being threaded as indicated at 42 and provided with nuts 44 and 46 whereby the legs 48 may be adjusted to vary the height of the frame from the oor of the room in which it is located. The Aend plate 36 is similarly provided with a pair of U-shaped supports 48 in which the legs 58 are adjustably mounted in the same manner.'

A pair of channel members 52 are welded or otherwise secured to the lower side of the top frame sheet 24 and each of these channel members has a laterally directed ange 54 forming a support for the base 56 carrying the electric motor 58 and fans 68 and 62 driven thereby. The base 56 simply rests upon the flanges 54 and may be secured in place by the cap screws 64 (Figure 2). A feature of my invention lies in the accessibility of the parts of my air conditioning unit for purposes of inspection, cleaning, and repair, and replacement, and Il have accordingly provided means whereby the base 56, motor 58, and fan 68, may be readily removed.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, I have illustrated that portion of the sheet 28 which forms the front of the box-like frame A as being provided with an opening 66 which is normally closed by a. removable cover 68. The cover 68 is made of sheet metal which isl reversely bent at its lower end to provide a recess 'I8 for receiving the upstanding edge of the plate 28 when the cover is in place. The upper edge of the cover 68 is also reversely bent as indicated at 12, to receive the upstanding edge 14 formed from the top portion of the plate 28. It will be appreciated that the cover 68 may be readily removed to permit removal of the base 56 with its associated motor and fan units by merely unscrewing -the cap screws 64 and withdrawing the base in a horizontal direction. After the desired inspection, cleaning, or repairing has been made, the base and its associated units may be as readily replaced and secured in positionV by the cap screws 64. The cover 68 can then be replaced. It will be noted that the motor 58 is supplied with current through a cord 16 having a separable connection 18 with facilitates such withdrawal and replacement of the motor and fan units.

The channel members 52 also provide as shown in Figure 1 means for holding in place the upper ends of filter elements 88 and 82, the lower ends of these elements being positioned in channel members 84 welded or otherwise secured to the plate 28 forming the bottom of the frame A. 'Ihese lter elements 88 and 82 may be removed and replaced by simply removing thev cover 68 and sliding the lter elements 88 and 82 from their positions in the channel members 52 and 84. New iilter elements can then be inserted and the cover 68 replaced.

I shall now describe the manner in which the air is drawn into the interior of the frame A by the fans 68 and 62. Where the unit is to be used in a room requiring only a. moderate amount cf air circulation, all of the air supplied to the fans 68 and 62 passes through the iilter units 88 and 82 and when the unit -is so used, the bottom portion of the metal sheet 28 is imperforate. I shall iirst describe the air iiow to the fans 68 and 62 vas it occurs in such an installation.

The lter 88 is interposed between the fans and a compartment 86 formed in one end of the frame A. The compartment 88 receives air from the room through an opening 88 in the end plate 34 which connects the compartment 86 with the space between the frame A and a removable cover 98 which encloses the entire unit. This cover has a large back opening 92 through which room air is readily admitted to the interior of the cover 98 since in making the installation the back ofI portions of room air and fresh air admitted to the compartment 86 are controlled by a damper |84 pivoted at |86 and connected by pivoted link |88 to arms I I8 of the control rod H2. A tension spring l|4 connects the cotter pins I|6 which form the pivotal connections for the link |88 and prevents rattling of the damper |84.

As best shown in Figure 5, the control rod ||2 has a handle I8 at its upper end whereby the control rod 2 and damper |84 may be shifted to any desired position. The position of the damper is readily indicated by the indicia provided at the lower ege of a name plate |28 supported on an upright bracket |22 attached to one end of the frame A.

Referring particularly to Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that a coil spring |24 has one end attached to the control rod ||2 as indicated at |26 and a second end I 28 resting against a portion of the bracket |22 in such manner .that when the control rod ||2 is turned to open the damper |84 and admit fresh air to the compartment 86, the tendency of the spring |24 is to closethis damper. The damper and control rod are held in the desired position by a friction clutch comprising a clutch member |38 (Figure 6) pivoted at |32 and held in frictional engagement with the control rod ||2 by a spring |34. When it is desired -to close the damper 84 to exclude fresh air, itis only necessary to push on the button |36 attached to the clutch member |38 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6, whereupon the clutch member |38 will be moved out of engagement with the control rod ||2 and the damper |84 will be closed by the spring |24.

The room air or mixture of room and fresh air entering the compartment 86 passes through the filter 88 and into the fan compartment. The fan compartment also receives room air through the lter 82 which communicates with the interior of the cover 98 by way of compartment |38 and opening |48 in end member 36.

Where my air conditioning unit is intended ta be used in a room requiring a very large circulation of air, I find it desirable to provide additional lter means which I preferably provide by welding or otherwise suitably attaching a sheet metal compartment B to the lower side of frame plate 28 as clearly shown in Figure 1. When my air conditioning unit is so used, the frame plate 28 is provided with an opening |42 registering with an opening |44 in the top of the compartment B to connect the interior of this compartment with the compartment 86. The bottom plate 28 of the frame A is also provided with a second opening |46 adapted to register with the iilter 48 mounted in the compartment B. This structure permits vadditional air to vbe drawn from compartment 86 through filter |48 and opening |46 into the fans 68 and 62.

In order to maintain the desired ratio between room air and fresh air supplied to the fans 68 and 62, I preferably divide the large lter I 48 into two parts by means of a partition |50 attached to a long sleeve |52 'slidable on a rod |54 extending longitudinally of the compartment B. That portion of the filter |48 to the left of the partition |50 receives its supply of air from the compartment 86 containing .the damper |04 for regulating the proportions of fresh air and room air admitted thereto. 'I'hat part of the :filter |48 which is to the right of partition |50 as viewed in Figure 1 receives a supply of room air from the opening |55 in the right-hand end of compartment B.

In most installations where the compartment B is used, it will sufce to position the partition |50 at the time the installation is made. If a readily adiustable partition should be desireding I 94 in the evaporator plate C and into contact with a deilector |98. I'he deflected air readily picks up any vapor given off by the heated water overlying the evaporator plate C priorto passing to the heating coils which I shall now describe.

Mounted upon the evaporator plate C- is a second box-like frame D comprising end plates |98 and 200 and side plates 202 and 204. The end plates |98 and 200 have outwardly directed flanges which are bolted or otherwise suitably separt of the evaporator plate C. 'I'he lower ends of the side plates 202 and 204 are reversely bent for any particular reason, the sleeve |52 and rod |54 may be threaded so that the partition |50 may be shifted by rotating the rod |54.

An evaporator 'plate C is supported on the boxlike frame A and is insulated therefrom by an asbestos gasket |56. The plate C is preferably made of metal which conducts heat readily and this plate receives some heat from a pipe, |58 which is brazed or otherwise suitably secured to the plate C and to which a heat conducting medium is supplied in.a manner which I shall hereinafter describe. Water is supplied to the evaporator plate by way o f pipe |60 (Figure 4), petcock |62, pipe |64, and valve |66 controlled by a oat |68 which maintains a predetermined level of water overlying the evaporator plate C.

and are pressed into engagement with the inner surfaces of the side anges of the evaporator plate C by guiding fingers 208 provided by the evaporator plate C.

The end plates of the box-like frame D support a plurality of heat exchange pipes which may be varied in number and arrangement for different installations. In the particular installation illustrated, there are eleven pipes, nine of which are used for cooling and two of which are used for heating. Each of these pipes is prefer- This water comes directly` in contact with the pipe |58 and receives heat directly therefrom.

The water admitted to the upper surface of plate C first flows into the end compartment |10 (Figure 1) and thence through an opening |12 to the central compartment of the* plate C. A second opening |14 connects this central compartment withthe other end compartment |16.- In case the float controlled valve |66 should fail to cut oii' the supply of water when the proper level of water on the plate C is reached, any excess water will over-now through the ports |18 in a tubular screw plug |80 threaded into the upper end of a sleeve-like portion |82 constituting an integral part of the plate C. The upper end of a drain pipe |84 is attached to the lower end of this sleeve-like portion |82 and carries away the excess water.

When it is not desired to operate the unit as a humidifying unit, the supply of Water to the evaporator plate C is cut off either by manually operating the petcock |64 or by an electrically controlled valve located in the water supply line which I shall hereinafter describe. Under these conditions, means is preferably provided to drain from the upper surface of the evaporator plate C any moisture which may collect thereon. 'I'his is accomplished by rotating the tubular plug- |80 through an angle of 180 to bring the hole |85 therein, in registry with the drain opening |86, whereuponany moisture collecting upon the upper surface of the' plate C may be carried away through this drain opening |86 and drain pipe |84. The upper end of the tubular plug |80 is provided with a cross-pin |88 to facilitate the adjustment of this plug to correspond with the intended operation of the unit.

'I'he air discharged by the fan 60 passes upwardly through a anged opening |90 in the evaporator plate C and into contact with a deiiector |92. Similarly, theair discharged by the fan 62 passes upwardly through th flanged openably made of aluminum or other non-corroding metal of high heat conductivity and comprises a' central tubular portion surrounded by a plu-A rality of generally radially directed spines which are integral with the material forming the tubular portion and which are struck up therefrom. As most clearly shown in FigureZ, the two heating pipes 2|0 and 2|2 are separated from the cooling pipes by a longitudinally extending vertical partition 2|4 having laterally directed ends 2|6 which are welded or otherwise attached to the end plates |98 and 200. Each iiange 2|6 has a recess 2|8 adapted to receive the pipe 2|0 and thereby readily determine the position of the ange 2|4. A damper 220 is mounted on a rod 222 which extends longitudinally of the unit adjacent the upper edge of the partition 2|4 so that by rotating the rod 222 all of the air may be made to pass over the cooling elements or all of the air over the heating elements or any proportion of air over either group of elements. For this purpose I provide the rod 222 with a handle 224 and the name plate |20 is suitably marked to indicate at any time the position of the damper 220.

Steam, hot water, or other. suitable heating medium is supplied to the evaporator pipe |58 and the heating pipes 2|0 and 2|2 through a heat supply pipe 226 (Figure 1) and is returned to the furnace through a heat return pipe 228. The particular piping connections may vary with the heating medium used. When the heating medium is steam, I preferably `connect the piping so that the steam supplied through the pipe 226 passes ilrst into the heating -pipes 2|0 and 2| 2 which are connected in parallel and iiows n from these pipes through the evaporator pipe A|58 and is returned to the furnace. 0n the other hand, where hot water is used asa heating medium, I ordinarily prefer to connect the heating pipes 2|0 and 2|2 and the evaporator pipe |58 in parallel as indicated in the drawings.-

a refrigerant is supplied 'to the cooling pipes through a refrigerant supply pipe 230 (Figure l) to an automatic expansion valve 232. The expanded refrigerant enters a header 234 connected to the left-hand ends of pipes 236, 238, and 248,

4 whose other ends are connected to pipes 242,

244 and 246 respectively. 'I'he left-hand ends of these latter pipes are illustrated as discharging into a second header 248 which is connected to the left-hand ends of the three lower pipes 258, 252 and 254. A third header 256 connects the right-hand ends of these last-named pipes with a refrigerant return pipe 258.

In the installation illustrated in the drawings, the automatic expansion valve 232 is controlled by a bulb 268 held in contact with the lower side of the header 248 to regulate the quantity of refrigerant admitted to the cooling elements. Where cold water is usedas a cooling medium, the automatic expansion valve 232 would be replaced by a flow control valve regulated by a bulb attached to the header 256. Various other modifications may be made -to suit particular conditions.

It Will be noted that the evaporator plate C is located beneath all of the heat exchange pipes so that any moisture which may collect thereon will drop onto the evaporator plate C and mal1 be drained therefrom in the manner previously described when dehumidification is desired. 'I'he deilectors |92 and l96 prevent any moisture dripping from the heat exchange pipes from entering the housings of the fans 68 and 62. It will further be noted that Ithe lower lends of the side plates and end plates of the frame D are so located that any moisture collecting thereon will fall into the evaporator plate C.

After passing over the heat exchange pipes and passing the damper 228, the air is discharged from the upper end of the box-like frame D through the outlet 262. This outlet registers with the grille 264 provided by the removable cover 98. This removable cover is not bolted or otherwise attached to the rest of the mechanism but is held in place solely by ngers 266 (Figure 2) which are attached to the front of the cover 98 and which slide in U-shaped channel members 268 secured to the front portion of the plate 28 adjacent the ends thereof. This construction makes it possible to completely remove and replace the cover 88 for inspection, cleaning, rey pair, or replacement of the mechanism enclosed therein without in any way disturbing the operation of this mechanism. The removable cover 88 is preferably provided with end doors 218 to -permit ready access to the controls and valves.

A feature of my invention lies in the grouping and accessibility of the several controls. Re# ferring particularly to-Figure 5, it will be seen that I have provided a name plate |28 which is located adjacent the control handles for the dampers controlling the proportion of fresh air to room air and controlling the ow of air over of the home or oillce in which the unit is located.

a second switch 214 for regulating the speed of the fans, and a third switch 216 whose position determines whether the unit is to be used as a cooling unit, a heating ,'unit,' or merely an air -circulating unit.

ving circuit 288, the switches 212, 214, 216, and the fan motor 58.

In Figure 9 I have shown these same circuits in combination with the various automatic electrical controls, the numbers l to 8 inclusive appearing on Figure 9 corresponding to the similarly numbered terminals on the block 218 of Figure 8. In Figure 9 the controls are indicated as comprising a thermostat 282 controlling a solenoid valve 284 for shutting off the supply of vrefrigerant or other cooling medium when the room temperature drops to a predetermined point, a humidostat 286 controlling a solenoid ilalve zas for cutting on the supply of water to, the evaporator plate C when the air in the room attains a predetermined degree of humidity and a thermostat 298 controlling a solenoid valve .292 for cutting off the supply of heat when the temperature in the room reaches a predetermined maximum.

It will be understood that the automatic controls indicated in Figure 9 have been selected as typical and that my invention is not limited to the particular arrangement of controls therein shown. Any or all of the automatic controls illustrated in Figure 9 may be dispensed with entirely or other types of automatic controls may be substituted therefor. A typical example' of such a substitution would be to use a bellows type heat control valve having its regulating bulb located inthe air outlet 262. Numerous other substitutions will readily occur to those conversant with the art and the controls commonly used therein.

Where my invention is to be installed in a building under construction, or in a buildingwhich is being remodeled, it may frequently be desirable to locate-my air conditioning unit in a recess formed inthe wall for this purpose. In Figure l0 I have diagrammatically illustrated a typical installation of this type. In this figure I have illustrated an air conditioning 'unit 294 which may be identical with that previously described except that the removable coverl 88 A thereof has been omitted. VThis unit 284 is partially located in a recess 296 provided in the wall 238, a duct 388 being provided through the wall to admit fresh air to the unit. The front of the unit, and that portion of the sides and top of the unit which project from the wall, are

enclosed by a cover 382 having louvers 384 and- 386 to admit room air to the back of the unit. I have provided my novel unit with the offset outlet 262 in order to make this unit particularly pended claims have, therefore, been drawn to sure, filter elements dividing said enclosure into two end chambers and a center chamber, a boxlike compartment located beneath said frame and secured thereto, there being an opening establishing communication between the interior of said box-like compartment and one of said end chambers, there also being a second opening establishing communication between the interior of said box-like compartment and said center chamber, a filter located between said compartment and said center chamber, there being openings connecting one of said end chambers with fresh air and the other of said end chambers with room air, a partition in said compartment, said lishing communication between the interior of said box-like compartment and one of said end chambers, there being a second opening establishing communication between the interior of said box-like compartment and said center chamber, one of said end chambers communicating with asource of fresh air and the other of said end chambers communicating with a source of room air, a filter located .between said compartment and said center chamber, a partition in said compartment movable to vary the area of said last-named filter through which fresh air may pass, the remaining area of said last-named ilter'being in communication with a source of room air, and a lmotor-driven fan located in said center chamber and receiving its supply of air through said filters.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a box-like frame having top, bottom, and side portions forming an elongated enclosure, filter elements dividing said enclosure into two end chambers and a center chamber, a boxlike compartment located beneath said frame and secured thereto, there being an opening establishing communication between the interior of said box-like compartment and one of said end chambers, there also being a second opening establishing communication between the interior of said box-like compartment and said center chamber, a filter located between said compartment and said center chamber, there being openings connecting one of said end chambers with fresh air and the other of said end chambers with room air, a partition in said compartment, a threaded shaft supported in the Walls of said box-like compartment for adjusting the position of the partition in the compartment to filter the area of the last-named filter available for passage of fresh air therethrough, and a motordriven fan located in said center chamber, said fan receiving its supply of air through said lters.

DEANE E. PERHAM. 

